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Blitz's Top-Speed Skyline
The 214 mph Blitz Skyline R348 Is Targeting America
By Gary Castillo
Photography by the Author
| To celebrate the event Mr. Yasumasa Matsuda, executive managing director of Blitz, took Option video, MKB Motorsports and Turbo Magazine out for a victory dinner. Through the feast, there was mingling among respected magazines and shop tuners. Option Video sponsored the record run along with one of Germany's respected Mercedes performance shop, MKB Motorsports. Turbo magazine along with a few European performance car magazines were also on hand to congratulate Blitz. Although the celebration was grand, Mr. Matsuda, signified that this was just the beginning of the Skyline's future. They have plans to race the Skyline on U.S. soil at the Silver State Challenge in Nevada. |
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So what does it take to be on top? This Nissan Skyline R34 boasts an arsenal of Blitz R&D products to prove it can dominate at any altitude.
Recipe to 214 MPH
Nissan's RB26 inline six has proven to be an engine worthy of recognition. Being a de-tuned race engine from the factory, the RB26 can take a beating. With Blitz' lofty goals, the crew decided to build the engine up from the inside out. A set of Blitz 87mm forged pistons, Blitz H-beam connecting rods, and a full counter crankshaft make up the motor's rotating assembly. The factory head gasket was also replaced with a Blitz prototype 1.2mm thick steel model. Cylinder head work is to remain secret but after talking with engine builder, Abe-Chan, the headwork is very mild but the camshafts are one-off Blitz creations. To bump up the lubrication system, Blitz R&D mechanics were able to increase the factory oil pump's pressure and volume output efficiently while keeping oil temperature down with a Blitz Type-A oil cooler.
Transmission gearing remained factory, the only driveline upgrade was in the clutch area. The R348 runs an experimental Blitz triple-disc clutch pack.
It would be a crime to build an engine to the extreme and leave the factory engine management system in charge of the show. Therefore the crew employed a plug-in Blitz ACCESS computer which allows custom programming of the Nissan's ECU. The Skyline's ECU E-PROM is a Blitz generated entity that required removing the factory chip and modifying a breadboard that allows the EPROM to be swaped out at will. Technical R&D engineer, Mr. Nakabayashi was responsible for tickling the keyboard and tuning the R348 via laptop while in Germany. Additional fuel enhancements included six 1000cc Blitz injectors fed by a secondary Bosch fuel pump. Blitz relies on its A/F Analyzer to monitor the R348 and ensure it is running proper air/fuel ratios. Further engine management monitoring is recorded through a Blitz Boost-Map Analyzer which can be reviewed on the fly. Managing the 1.8 bar of maximum boost is an electronic Blitz Dual SBC while a Multi Speed Turbo Timer is in charge of cooling the oil temperature once the ignition key is switched off.
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Blitz relies on a custom-built K5-850R turbocharger to feed 1.8 bars of boost pressure to obtain 850 horsepower. In factory trim, the Nissan Skyline runs a twin-turbo set-up. For the single-turbo configuration Blitz designed a cast-intake Y-pipe to run the two mass air units. |
Considering Blitz' technical powers, one would expect the turbo kit to look like it was designed for the Warp-Drive unit of Star Trek's Starship Enterprise. The R34 runs a hand-made stainless-steel exhaust manifold plugged into a Blitz K5-850R turbocharger that is controlled via two D47D wastegates. The wastegates are big, about the size of two grapefruits, and earn their pay for the week by regulating boost pressure to 26 psi. Since the Skyline is originally a twin-turbo and the recipe retains the factory ECU harness, Blitz had to design an intake pipe that incorporated two mass air sensors into the single-turbo system. This also allowed them to bolt on two Blitz SUS-Power5 type C-4 air filters. Internal engine heat can be a killer so the Blitz Skyline utilizes a three-row Type H intercooler core with cast end tanks and custom intercooler piping. We found the exhaust system very impressive. Looking from the back of the vehicle, one's eyes zoom in on the Blitz Nur-RR muffler with 100mm stainless-steel piping. The muffler was unique in its own way. Built into the muffler is a baffle that can be removed for added exhaust flow. While in Germany, the car blazed by us on the Autobahn somewhat quietly. In race trim, the 60mm baffle was removed to reveal a muffler outlet the same size as the 100mm exhaust piping. Although it was louder, the payback was more top-end horsepower with a "straight-through" exhaust system. |
| So how much
horsepower does the Blitz Skyline put down? Try 850 horses at 8900 rpm
with 708.99 lbs-ft of torque. Although it took a great deal to make the
power, it also takes a lot of engineering to keep the power and the car on
the ground at 214 mph for miles at a time. To break the 200-mph barrier
Blitz had to ensure that each aftermarket product was tested and retested
for the safety of the driver. The body kit is a Blitz model that was
extensively wind-tunnel tested on the vehicle so the team would have a
complete and accurate aerodynamic portrait of the R34. The kit also
utilizes wide-body fender trim to run much fatter tires than the factory
models. The R348 rides on 18x10 Blitz Techno Speed Z-1's wrapped in a
prototype 265/35ZR-18 Dunlop SP Sport 9000 tire. The prototype tires are
specifically designed for the Project R348 and rated at well over 200 mph.
Most top-speed pilots would agree that tire shake can be a killer at over 200 mph. To dodge this problem, a stable suspension is paramount and the key to the R348's road-management abilities are a set of Blitz/SACHS height-and-valve adjustable shocks. |
To take on 850 horsepower, the RB26 engine was extensively reworked by the Blitz R&D department in Japan. From camshaft to crankshaft the RB26 uses an arsenal of one-off Blitz products. |
The Nissan is scheduled to run on U.S. soil in the Silver State Challenge in Nevada. This race is designed to test vehicle engineering under the extreme conditions of top speed, handling and braking characteristics over a torturous 90-mile course. The Blitz Skyline R34 dutifully displays all of these characteristics. The top speed is found in the RB26 powerplant boasting 850 horsepower, handling is displayed in the suspension hop-ups and braking that can be seen in the upgraded rotors and calipers of the Skyline's already race-spec set-up.
The R348 relies on aftermarket Brembo rotors designed for the Nissan and a set of dual-piston fixed calipers. Loaded into the Brembo calipers are a set of experimental Blitz metallic brake pads. The Skyline's advanced braking system will definitely be tested out during the 90-mile Silver State race.
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The stainless-steel exhaust pipe from downpipe to tailpipe expands to a very large four-inch diameter. The muffler canister was also fabricated in stainless-steel with a very unique feature--its 60mm baffle can be removed to unveil a straight-through canister for race applications. |
Interior
enhancements were designed around utilizing a majority of the factory
interior. Other than the additional dataloging computers and a seven-point
roll cage for safety, the driver's seat was replaced by a tight-fitting
Blitz GT-1 race seat with a five-point Sabelt harness.
Project R348 fought the Autobahn and came up on top by hitting 214 mph within a five-mile stretch near Boxberg. This time the Skyline will be up against some of America's fastest top-speed cars from around the country. Blitz is planning to enter the Nissan in the unlimited class that will actually put them as the underdog. The majority of the vehicles in this class range from stripped-down factory cars to full tube-chassis vehicles specifically engineered for the Silver State. After watching the car stretch its legs on the Autobahn, I personally think that this is the most impressive, most solid 200-plus mph street car I have ever come across. You can bet when Blitz debuts the Skyline on U.S. soil, Turbo magazine will be on hand to witness the feat. |
Courtesy of :-
